Branch Presidents' Reports Victorian Branch (continued) A plus has been the addition of new EHA members to the EMSIG. Michelle Barrett from Whitehorse City Council joined the SIG and will be completing the Certificate 1V Workplace Assessment course in 2008/09. Andrew Murphy from Wodonga Council and Sarah Shearn from City of Glen Eira Council also joined, as did Samantha Kelly from Wellington Shire Council, who very competently presented at the 2007 course on local government’s response to recent bushfires, and will again this year. Financially, the EMSIG continues to be cost effective in its operation and will continue to do so, subject to adequate numbers of participants, maintenance of the accreditation status and support of speakers for the Emergency Management for Public Health Professionals Course, as well as the willingness of members to be become active members of the SIG. To become a member of the EMSIG, a member must be a financial member of EHA and have completed the course. Recent discussions have been held with Jim Smith (National President of EHA) related to our course becoming the standard for a national course throughout Australia. Without the efforts of the original founders of the course, Duncan Moore in particular, and more recently the SIG members involvement and commitment to providing an outstanding course, this would not have been proposed. In closing, may I extend my sincere appreciation to Branch Council for their support of the EMSIG and the Course, and especially to the EMSIG members listed below for their work and dedication. The roles shown besides each SIG member are roles they undertake in addition to their normal attendance at SIG meetings. Kirsten Jenkins Seona Liew Houa Tia Ross Cairns Course Convenor, Course Assessor, Exercise Facilitator, Senior Assessor, Senior Accreditation Convenor, Exercise Facilitator, Course and Swinburne presenter Course Co-ordinator, Course Assessor, Exercise Facilitator, Course presenter and Syndicate Leader Syndicate Leader, Course presenter, Emergency Management Committee Representative, Exercise Facilitator Heather O’Donnell Senior Exercise Facilitator Andrea Spiteri Daniela Failla Senior Exercise Facilitator, Swinburne and Course presenter Swinburne and Course presenter, Exercise Facilitator, Emergency Management Committee Representative Sally-Ann Atkinson Exercise Facilitator Christelle Ray Michelle Barrett Exercise Facilitator Healthline Representative, Syndicate Leader, Exercise Facilitator Andrew Murphy Sarah Shearn Sam Kelly Exercise Facilitator, Syndicate Leader Exercise Facilitator Course Presenter Kirsten Jenkins mAIEH EMSIG Convenor EHA ANNUAL REPORT 2008 41